Civil society groups call for release of top Egyptian activist

A person holds up a poster of activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah as others carry large-scale artworks during a protest calling for insurers to rule out East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) as part of a global day of action, in London, Britain, November 12, 2022. REUTERS/May James/File Photo

(Reuters) - Egyptian and international civil society groups on Thursday called for the release of the country's most prominent activist, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, after his lawyer indicated that he would remain in detention until 2027.

Egyptian-British software developer and blogger Abd el-Fattah had hoped to be freed on Sunday, when he will have been imprisoned for five years since his latest detention in 2019.